Packing and shipping case for fruit



- (NoModeL) 2Sheet--Sheet 1.

G. H. TREAT. PACKING AND SHIPPING CASE FOR FRUIT.

No. 469,986. Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

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WITNESSES: E] v T g @112 WW m j/ J/Mf,

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G....H. TREAT. PACKING AND SHIPPING GASB FOR-,IR-UIT.

Patent-6i Mar. L 1892.

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BY CAM 644w ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

CHARLES H. TRFAT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PACKING AND SHIPPING CASE FOR FRUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,986, dated March 1,1892. Application filed July 8,1891. Serial No.398,'766- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. TREAT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Packing and Shipping Cases forFruit, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in packing and shipping casesfor fruit, &c.; and the main objects in view are to so construct andarrange the case as to economize space as much as possible, to provide astrong crate which will stand rough handling, and to provide a cover forthe crate which can remain permanently secured thereto and will notinterfere with the nesting of a number of crates.

WVith these ends in view the invention may be said to consist in thenovel arrangement of parts and features of construction, which will bedescribed hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which--Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectio through one side of the caseas it appears when ready for shipment. Fig. 2 represents a cross-sectionthrough one end. Fig. 3 represents an end view. Fig. 4 represents a topview. Fig. 5 represents an inside perspective view of a portion of thecrate, showing the construction at the corners of the same. Fig. 6represents a cross-section of a number of crates nested or fittedtogether, one within the other. Figs. 7 and 8 represent end views of thetwo 'diiferent styles of baskets used.

The letter A designates the crate or outside case, which has inclinedsides and ends. I fit eight baskets snugly within this crate, four abovethe others, and all disposed transversely of the crate, and each basketof the same ca pacity. I accomplish this in the following manner: Thelower tier of baskets B, which rest on the bottom B of the crate, aremade with sides and ends of the same inclination as the crate A, so asto fit snugly to the sides and ends of the same. All of these lowerbaskets have the same dimensions, and four of them, placed side by side,occupy just onehalf of the holding capacity of the crate. It

follows that as the latter grows smaller tothe inclined sides of thecrate.

ward the bottom, its'sides being inclined, the

upper edge of the baskets B are on a line above the middle of the crate.A suitable tray 0 is fitted in the crate above the baskets B, and uponthis tray are arranged the upper tier of baskets D. The upper part A ofthe crate occupied by these baskets -D has the same capacity as thelower part A occupied by the lower baskets B; but its dimensions areobviously diiferent, being shallower and having a greater length andwidth, owing to The baskets D are accordingly made with differentdimensions than the lower baskets, so that four of them placed side byside fill the upper part A of the same. The upper baskets D areshallower and have a greater length and width than the lower baskets, asillustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8. The upper baskets also haveinclined sides and ends, and when placed above the lower baskets theirinclined ends are in line with the inclined ends of the said lowerbaskets and lie parallel with the sides of the crate, as shown in Fig.2. In other words, theends of the upper baskets are as continuations ofthose of the lower baskets. This is also true of the outer sides of theend baskets, as seen by reference to Fig. 1. The baskets, conforminginthis manner to the shape of the crate, fit snugly in the latter. By myarrangement, as above described, it will be observed that I am enabledtO pack eight baskets of the same capacity compactly in a crate ofordinary size and form without crowding by varying the dimensions of thebaskets.

The crate A is made of slats a, with open spaces between them, and isbraced and strengthened by an inside and an outside strip b and 0,extending around the top, and at the bottom by a similar encirclingstrip (l. I also run two strips 6, one around each side at the middle ofthe crate, securing them to the slats in suitable manner, and carry themover the ends of the crate, where they lap across each other, as shownat e. The ends 6 of these strips 6 are carried through the openings fbetween the middle slat f and the two corner slats, and into the cratewhere they are bent, as at a to fit the corners of the crate, andsuitably secured to the slats of the latter. The strips are also securedtogether and to the crate where they cross on the excrate, asillustrated in Fig. 6.

terior of the same. It will be observed that the crate is considerablystrengthened and braced by these strips'c at the ends and corners.

The crate is provided with a pair of covers E, hinged to opposite sidesand designed to shut down one upon the other, as shown. Each cover isbeveled at its opposite ends, as seen at 0, to correspond to theinclination of the ends of the crate. WVhen the crate is packed forshipment, these covers are secured down by suitable wires g and closethe crate and protect its contents.

Vhen it is desired to nest a number of crates, the covers of the sameare thrown back on their hinges and against the sides of the crates. Thebevel of the ends of said covers conforms to the inclination of the endsof the crate, and hence said covers will not project therefrom. Thecovers as thus arranged and constructed will allow of the nesting of theThe advantage of this is that the covers can remain perinaand providedwith a pair of covers, each cover hinged to open back against anopposite side of the crate, and each having beveled ends to conform tothe inclination of the ends of the crate to facilitate nesting, as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affixiny signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES H. TREAT. Witnesses:

B. P. DAVIS, J NO. T. MADDOX.

